Nipple discharge and the efficacy of duct cytology in evaluating breast cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Nipple discharge accounts for up to 5% of referrals to breast surgical services. With the vast majority of breast carcinomas originating in the ductal system, symptomatic dysfunction of this system often raises disproportionate clinical concern. The aim of this study is firstly, to evaluate the clinical importance of nipple discharge as an indicator of underlying malignancy and secondly, to assess the diagnostic application of duct cytology in patients presenting with nipple discharge. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with nipple discharge as their primary symptom to the symptomatic breast unit at a tertiary referral center over a 30-month period (n = 313). The Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) System and BreastHealth database were used to identify our study cohort. Parameters evaluated included patient demographics, clinical presentation, clinical evaluation, radiological assessment and histological/cytological analysis. RESULTS: Three-hundred and thirteen patients presented with nipple discharge as their primary complaint. Invasive breast carcinoma was diagnosed by Triple Assessment in 5% of patients. 24% of patients presenting with nipple discharge underwent nipple aspiration and cytological analysis. Duct cytology was diagnostic of the underlying breast carcinoma in 50% of triple assessment diagnosed carcinoma. Four risk factors were identified as having a significant association with breast carcinoma, these included (a) age >50 years (p < 0.0001), (b) bloody nipple discharge (p < 0.008), (c) presence of a breast lump (p < 0.0001) and (d) single duct discharge (p < 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Nipple discharge is a poor indicator of an underlying malignancy. Use of nipple aspiration and duct cytology for the assessment of nipple discharge is of limited diagnostic benefit. However, by utilizing the systematic, gold standard approach of Triple Assessment (clinical, radiological and cytological evaluation), the risk of underlying carcinoma can be accurately defined.

Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in high-risk ductal carcinoma in situ patients.

BACKGROUND: The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is poorly defined. However, up to 20% of patients with DCIS will have invasive carcinoma; these patients require staging for axillary metastasis. The aim of this study was to identify patients with a core biopsy diagnosis of DCIS who may benefit from SLNB. METHODS: In a prospective study, we performed SLNB on patients with a preoperative diagnosis of >2.5 cm of high-grade DCIS or DCIS when mastectomy was indicated. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients underwent surgery for high-grade DCIS, and 35 of these patients underwent SLNB. Postsurgical excision histology revealed invasive disease in 20 patients, 19 of whom had undergone SLNB. Before the adoption of SLNB in selected DCIS patients, all 20 with occult invasive disease would have required second surgery axillary staging (P < .01, chi-square test). CONCLUSIONS: SLNB should not be performed routinely for all patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS. However, selective lymphadenectomy may be a useful clinical adjuvant in selected high-risk DCIS patients.

Induction of nitric oxide synthase is a key determinant of progression to pulmonary injury in experimental pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The immunomodulatory potential of nitric oxide provides prospective strategies to attenuate inappropriate inflammatory reactions. This study tested the hypothesis that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) reduces end-organ injury in pancreatitis. METHODS: Pancreatitis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 20% L-arginine (500 mg/100 g of body weight). Animals were randomized into four groups of 45: Pancreatitis without intervention; pre-treatment with i.p. aminoguanidine (AMG) (50 mg/kg), an isoform-specific inhibitor of inducible NOS; post-treatment with AMG (50 mg/kg); and controls. Pancreatic and pulmonary pathology, neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase activity), endothelial permeability (bronchoalveolar lavage, wet:dry weight ratio), NOS expression, and concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha; interleukin-6) were assessed. RESULTS: Inhibition of iNOS significantly reduced end-organ injury. Pancreatic and pulmonary injury scores were markedly attenuated in the AMG treatment groups compared with no intervention (p < 0.05). Increased endothelial permeability (2,411.1 +/- 47.9) and neutrophil sequestration (1.99 +/- 0.01) were manifest in the untreated animals compared with AMG pretreatment (1,286.8 +/- 35.1 and 1,548.0 +/- 0.1; p < 0.05). In addition, a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokine concentrations was observed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of inducible NOS encourages a more benign immunologic profile, minimizing the deleterious effects of unrestrained neutrophil sequestration subsequent to pancreatitis.

Peroral and transgastric esophageal anastomosis with flexible shaft remote-control stapler (SurgASSIST).

Stapled cervical esophageal anastomoses are technically challenging and are associated with relatively high complication rates, particularly in leaks and anastomotic strictures. We describe the use of a flexible shaft, remote-control, circular stapling device in forming high esophageal anastomoses in 2 patients. Retrograde transgastric and prograde peroral approaches are evaluated comparing ease of technical application and outcomes. Both procedures were performed after total esophagectomy for cancer in a 72-year-old male patient with preoperative down-staging and a 78-year-old female who proceeded directly to surgery. The introduction of rigid staplers in the esophagus by either route can be difficult and technical pointers and the potential applications of the flexible SurgASSIST device are discussed. Potential benefits include shorter time for constructing the anastomosis and a wider lumen resulting in possible cost benefit. Both patients had uneventful technical construction of stapled anastomoses, and the only complication in the female was a leak in the gastric close-off at the site of introduction of the flexshaft. Both are alive and well without recurrence at 2 years and 22 months.